Verizon’s Share Everything plan: What it will cost you

On June 28, Verizon will replace its current plans with the “Share Everything” plan, a new concept where users stop paying for voice and texts and are instead charged by device and how much data they want to share between those devices.

It’s good and bad. Under the new Share Everything plan, everyone on Verizon will have unlimited minutes, texts, and the ability to share their data connection with other devices via hotspots (possibly tethering). However, those who have an unlimited data plan will lose that plan as soon as Verizon subsidizes a new phone or they move to 4G (if you renew without getting a new phone, you can stay, we think).

Like all Verizon plans, Share Everything is overly complicated so Verizon can suck up as much money as possible. With that in mind, we thought we’d give you a hand. We’ve done the math on a bunch of different scenarios to see how the new plans will compare to what users have been paying. We’ve stuck to phones for this test, but Verizon’s hope is that by pooling data and lowering prices ever so slightly, it can get users to buy more tablets, modems, and laptops that connect to the network. Basic info for the Share Everything Plans can be found here.

The full price breakdowns are below for each of these scenarios. Verizon seems to have calculated this plan out so a lot of people come out even or save a bit of money. The people that lose out are those who are already skimping on minutes or data packages to save money. Those on an individual plan with one smartphone and minimum minutes and texts are losers as well. Verizon wants customers who like all you can eat.

1 person with a flip phone (minimum minutes/texts)

Believe it or not, there are folks out there with regular old flip phones. Verizon has wisely decided to randomly waive the access fee for the first flip phone. Additional basic phones are $30 a piece.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$50

$00 – Flip phone 1

$40 – 450 minutes

No data

$10 – 1000 texts

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$40

$00 – Flip phone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$40 – 0GB to share

(You can pay $70 for 300MB)

1 person with a smartphone (minimum minutes/texts)

In this transition to new pricing, it’s the loners who will get killed with higher bills. If you are alone and not paying Verizon for an extra tablet or unlimited minutes, your bill is about to go up by 25-percent. This is my current plan, so I feel your pain. For those of you stuck in the “screwed” category, I’d suggest taking a look at Ting. It offers actual shared plans that aren’t full of hidden costs. Plus, the guys at Ting have a good sense of humor.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$80

$00 – Smartphone 1

$40 – 450 minutes

$30 – 2GB

$10 – 1000 texts

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$100

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$60 – 2GB to share

(You can pay $50 for 1GB)

1 person with a smartphone (unlimited minutes/texts)

If you’re alone, but can’t get off the phone or stop texting everybody, you could save $20 to $30 on the Share Everything plan.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$120

$00 – Smartphone 1

$70 – Unlimited minutes

$30 – 2GB

$20 – Unlimited texts

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$100

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$60 – 2GB to share

(You can pay $50 for 1GB)

2 person family with smartphones (limited minutes)

This is your typical couple. They share a medium amount of minutes, but under the current plan, they’re forced to pay $30 for each phone to have a data connection. Under the Share Everything plan, these people would save a small amount on their monthly bill, though the actual price of data has gone up. Families who were sharing 1400 minutes for $90 a month will see about $30 in savings. Unless you have a grandfathered unlimited data plan right now, the savings and benefit of having unlimited voice calls and Wi-Fi hotspots may be worth it.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$160

$00 – Smartphone 1

$70 – 700 min. 1st 2 lines

$30 – 2GB

$00 – Smartphone 2

$30 – unlimited texts

$30 – 2GB

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$150

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$70 – 4GB to share

$40 – Smartphone 2

(You can opt for less data)

4 person family with 2 flip phones and 2 smartphones

This entry was made for Qwertech, one of our readers. If you currently split 700 minutes and have two smartphones and two flip phones, you’ll probably end up spending about the same under the new Share Everything plan. There is an opportunity to save up to $20 on the new plan if both smartphone users can somehow split 1GB of data, but the plan is still $10 more expensive. Again, maybe check out Ting.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$180

$00 – Smartphone 1

$70 – 700 min. 1st 2 lines

$30 – 2GB

$00 – Smartphone 2

$30 – unlimited texts

$30 – 2GB

$10 – Flip phone 1

$10 – each additional line

No data

$10 – Flip phone 2

No data

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$210

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$70 for 4GB to share

$40 – Smartphone 2

(You can opt for less data)

$30 – Flip phone 1

(But 1GB still costs $50)

$30 – Flip phone 2

5 person family with flip phones (limited minutes)

These families exist. The parents may not understand or want smartphones and the kids can’t afford a data package, so they’re stuck with flip phones as well. Under this scenario, things come out more expensive under the new plan.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$130

$00 – Flip phone 1

$70 – 700 min. 1st 2 lines

No data

$00 – Flip phone 2

$30 – unlimited texts

$10 – Flip phone 3

$10 – each additional line

$10 – Flip phone 4

$10 – Flip phone 5

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$160

$00 – Flip phone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$40 for 0GB to share

$30 – Flip phone 2

$30 – Flip phone 3

$30 – Flip phone 4

$30 – Flip phone 5

5 person family with smartphones (limited minutes)

Families on a budget likely opt for Verizon’s shared 700, 1400, or 2000 minute plans. These force you to watch your minutes, but they come with a much cheaper fee for adding extra lines — only $10 instead of $50 for the full-fledged unlimited minutes package. For a family like this, there is also a potential to save money with the new Share Everything plan, especially if they choose to button down and pay for less shared data.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$280

$00 – Smartphone 1

$70 – 700 min. 1st 2 lines

$30 – 2GB

$00 – Smartphone 2

$30 – unlimited texts

$30 – 2GB

$10 – Smartphone 3

$10 – each additional line

$30 – 2GB

$10 – Smartphone 4

$30 – 2GB

$10 – Smartphone 5

$30 – 2GB

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$300

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$100 – 10GB to share

$40 – Smartphone 2

(You can opt for less data)

$40 – Smartphone 3

(But 1GB still costs $50)

$40 – Smartphone 4

$40 – Smartphone 5

5 person family with smartphones (unlimited minutes/texts)

This family is the kind of family Verizon loves. They never stop talking on their phones and are paying top dollar for just about everything. If your family is large and already had unlimited voice and texts, then you will save a good amount of money by switching to this new plan. Don’t forget to make Verizon more money by adding 5 tablets to their service for only $10 a piece.

Current Price

Account access

Minutes/Texts

Data

$450

$00 – Smartphone 1

$120 – unlim voice 1st 2 lines

$30 – 2GB

$00 – Smartphone 2

$30 – unlimited texts

$30 – 2GB

$50 – Smartphone 3

$50 – each additional line

$30 – 2GB

$50 – Smartphone 4

$30 – 2GB

$50 – Smartphone 5

$30 – 2GB

Future Price

Device Fee

Minutes/Texts

Data

$300

$40 – Smartphone 1

Unlimited/Unlimited

$100 for 10GB to share

$40 – Smartphone 2

(You can opt for less data)

$40 – Smartphone 3

(But 1GB still costs $50)

$40 – Smartphone 4

$40 – Smartphone 5

How did you fare?

We couldn’t cover all scenarios. If you see big scenario we missed, let us know and we can add it. Is this new plan saving you money? Are you okay with giving up unlimited data to gain unlimited voice and text? Let us know. Verizon has included a pricing calculator, for those who are having trouble understanding the whole thing.

(A side note: None of these breakdowns include the varying access fees, charges, and taxes that usually boost your phone bill by $5 to $20)

Edit 1: I just changed all of the minutes on the limited minute Family comparisons to 700. The more minutes you use, the better the new plan will be for you.